Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The ABC describes Congresswoman's shooter as a "radical conservative"

Jared Loughner's Tucson shooting rampage was the first topic of discussion on The Drum on the ABC Monday night, host Tim Palmer introducing the topic by referring to "vitriolic political discourse" and "Sarah Palin's infamous campaign crosshairs map". A clip of serial ranter Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik – a Democrat – condemning the state of political discourse then follows. Not satisfied that the point was made, host Palmer notes that the shooter held "right-wing beliefs", moments later describing Loughner as a "radical conservative".

It's outrageous that Australia's national broadcaster – our ABC – continually pumps out anti-right propaganda. If the ABC had a significant audience it would be a real worry.

7 Comments:

Ferrero Rochw said...

According to a report in the Age today:

"... Fox News quoted a Department of Homeland Security memo that suggested a possible link between Loughner and American Renaissance, the journal of an anti-immigration group. According to the department, the group promotes views that are ''anti-government, anti-immigration, anti-ZOG [Zionist Occupational Government], anti-Semitic''.

If that proves correct will the ABC then make the connection between Loughner's senseless violence and his anti-Zionist and antiSemitic views?

That anyone would attempt to project their own political frame of reference onto this deluded, demented individual says more about their own moral vacuum than anything else. That the ABC would employ such people with my taxes is disappointing, but hardly surprising, given the kind of contributions they post on the Drum, etc.

Given that Tim Palmer is a former EP of Media Watch, it's surprising he seems to have forgotten (or ignored) Chapter 5.17 of the ABC's editorial policies:

5.17 Labelling of groups and individuals5.17.1 The overriding objective for the ABC is to report the facts clearly, accurately and mpartially to enable audiences to make their own judgements and form their own conclusions.5.17.2 The ABC does not label groups or individuals except where labels provide valuable information or context. Labels, if inappropriately applied, can be seen as subjective, over simplistic or as portraying stereotypes.5.17.3 Where labels have been ascribed to an individual or l or group by a third party, this will be made clear within the broadcast.